JESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATH, Ron Ward
BLESSINGS AND WOES
Passage: Luke 6:17~26  
Key verse: 20
Blessings and Woes(A)
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon,(B) 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him,(C) because power was coming from him and healing them all.(D)
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.(E)
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.(F)
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.(G)
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you(H) and insult you(I)
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.(J)
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,(K) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.(L)
24 “But woe to you who are rich,(M)
for you have already received your comfort.(N)
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.(O)
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.(P)
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(Q)
Cross references
- Luke 6:17 : 6:20-23pp — Mt 5:3-12
- Luke 6:17 : Mt 4:25; S Mt 11:21; Mk 3:7, 8
- Luke 6:19 : S Mt 9:20
- Luke 6:19 : Mk 5:30; Lk 5:17
- Luke 6:20 : S Mt 25:34
- Luke 6:21 : Isa 55:1, 2; Mt 5:6
- Luke 6:21 : Isa 61:2, 3; Mt 5:4; Rev 7:17
- Luke 6:22 : Jn 9:22; 16:2
- Luke 6:22 : Isa 51:7
- Luke 6:22 : S Jn 15:21
- Luke 6:23 : S Mt 5:12
- Luke 6:23 : S Mt 5:12
- Luke 6:24 : Jas 5:1
- Luke 6:24 : Lk 16:25
- Luke 6:25 : Isa 65:13
- Luke 6:25 : Pr 14:13
- Luke 6:26 : S Mt 7:15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Jesus' power to heal (17-19)
The crowds came to hear Jesus' word, and to be healed and set free from the power of Satan. Jesus had compassion on the shepherdless crowds. He served them with all his heart. But he knew that they needed shepherds, so he turned his attention to the 12 and began to teach them.
2. Blessings and woes (20-26)
Jesus' disciples must have a different value system from that of worldly people. Most people feel blessed when they are rich, comforted and well-fed. They think they are blessed when they can laugh a lot and be praised by people. But Jesus says that these things don't make people happy. Jesus' disciples seem to be poor, but they have everything--because they have the kingdom of God. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. He is the source of blessing. We can expect criticism and persecution from worldly people. But we have a great joy that no one can take away.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live with your value system as a citizen of your kingdom.
One Word: The blessed life is full of joy